Asparagus-bung her



(No Model.)

B. WATTS. ASPARAGUS BUNUHBR.

No. 459,426; Patented Sept. 15, 1891.

AEHHHIIIMW UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ELIAS IVATTS, OF KEYPORT, NEIN JERSEY.

ASPARAGUS-BUNCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,426, datedSeptember 15, 1891.

Application filed April 30, 1891. Serial No. 391,125. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS WATTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Keyport, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Asparagus-Buncher, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to devices for bunching asparagus; and it is animprovement on the device of this class forwhichLetters Patent of theUnited States No. 374,383 were issued to me on the 6th day of December,1887.

My present invention has for its object to make the machine adj ust-ableto form bunches of various sizes and to adapt the clampingjaws tobunches of a more or less tapering shape, and with these ends in view myin vention consists in providing the machine with adjustable jaws,'aswill be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view showingan asparagusbuncher constructed in accordance with my present invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is aperspective detail view showing one of the adjustable jaws connectedwith the pivoted jaw. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken on theline 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

1 designates the base of the machine,which is provided with the uprightsor standards 2 2, having the upwardly-extending approximatelysemicircular jaws 3 3. Extending laterally from one of the standards isa plate or shelf 4, supporting a wooden block 5, which forms a rest tosupport the butt end of the bunch while the latter is being cut off. Theother standard is provided with a laterallyextending gage-pin 6, uponwhich is adjust ably mounted a gage-plate 7, by means of the set-screw8, to regulate the distance to which the tip ends of the asparagus shallbe permitted to project beyond the adjacent clamp.

To the inner sides of the standards are pivoted the jaws 9, which arecurved outwardly and rearwardly from the jaws 3, and which are providedwith transverse perforations 1.0 to receive the bolts 11, havingthumb-screws 12, by means of which the extension-jaws 13 aresecured adjustably to the said pivoted jaw, said extension-jaws beingprovidedwithdownwardly-extendingflanges14,havinglongitudinal slots 15for'the reception of the bolts 11. The extension -jaws 13, which areapproximately semicircular inshape, are provided with wedge-shaped seats16, engaging the upper sides of the pivoted jaws ,9. By this arrangementthe points of the extension-jaws will be always caused to align with thepoints of the stationary jaws 3,no matter what may be the position ofthe extension-jaws upon the pivoted jaws.

The standards or uprights 2 2 are connected by a cross bar or shaft 17,upon which is pivotally mounted a lever 18, the inner end of which iswidened, so as to fit the space between the standards, forming a frame,

the front corners of which are provided with laterally-extending lugs19, adapted to engage the cam-shaped arms 20, which extend downwardlyand forwardly from the pivoted jaws 9. By raising the handle 21 of thelever 18 the said pivoted jaws will be permitted to swing outwardfromthe stationary jaws. By lowering the lever-handle. the operationwill be reversed and the pivoted jaws with their adjustable. extensionswill be closed against the stationary jaws.

The operation of my invention and its advantages will be readilyunderstood. One or both of the adjustable extension-jaws may be adjustedto form a bunch of any desired size and also to adapt the machine to thegreater or less taper of the bunch.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In anasparagus-buncher, the combination, with the stationary jaws, of thepivoted jaws having the extension-jaws mounted adjustably thereon,substantially as set forth.

2. In an asparagus-buncher, the combination, with the stationary jaws,of the pivoted jaws, the extension-jaws having downwardlyextendingflanges provided with longitudinal slots, and the connecting-boltshaving thumbnuts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an asparagus-buncher, the comhination, with the stationary jaws,of the pivoted jaws extending outwardly and rearwardly from saidstationary jaws, the extension-jaws haVingWedge-shaped seatsengaging thefaces whereby said extension-jaws are connected 0f the stationary jaws,and means for conadjnstably with the pivoted aws, substannecting saidextension-jaws adj ustably with tially as set forth.

said pivoted jaws, substantially as set forth. In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as 15 5 4. In an asparagus-bunoher, the oornbinamy own Ihave hereto aflixed my signature 111 tion of the stationary jaws, thepivoted jaws presence of two witnesses.

having cam-shaped arms and provided with ELIAS W ATTS transverseperforations, the extension-jaws having wedge-shaped seats anddownwardly- Witnesses:

10 extending longitudinally-slotted flanges, and J. A. OGDEN,

the connectingbolts having thumb nuts, A. WVALLING, Jr.

